Genevieve Rice

Visitation for Genevieve Marie Rice, 91, of Kankakee, will be from 10 a.m. Wednesday until the 11 a.m. funeral services at the Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, west Kankakee. The Rev. Dennis Settles will officiate. Interment will follow at Maternity BVM Catholic Cemetery in Bourbonnais. Memorials may be made to The Monastery of the Infant Jesus, 1501 Lotus Lane, Lufkin, TX 75904. She died Saturday (March 24, 2012) at her home. Mrs. Rice worked at the Bear Brand Hosiery Co., Krogers, and also for the J.J. Newberry 5 and 10 cent store in Norfolk, Va. She was born Jan. 18, 1921, in Kankakee, the daughter of Emile P. and Anna B. Caron Drolet. Her husband, Wilbert Rice, whom she married April 24, 1943, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Kankakee, preceded her in death Jan. 4, 2010. She was a charter member of St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church. As a young woman, she had a passion for dancing and loved going to the Aragon and Trianon ballrooms in Chicago. She also enjoyed roller skating, riding her bicycle, baking and sewing. She played a mean game of ping pong and was known for her "wicked" serve. Later in life, she also enjoyed reading, a good jigsaw puzzle and the music of Danny O'Donnell. Genevieve was loved for her sharp wit, her love of a good prank, her humble and enduring spirit and commitment to family. Surviving are three daughters, Mary Troncale, of Kankakee, Susan Heun, of Washington, Ill., and Bonnie Rice, of Bozeman, Mont.; one foster daughter, Nancy and Jon Wells, of Austin, Texas; two sisters, Sybillina "Irene" Drolet, of Lufkin, Texas, and Pauline Drolet, of Piper City; one brother, Robert Drolet, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; two grandchildren, Melissa Troncale and Gilbert Field, and Aimee Troncale; two stepgrandchildren, Susan and Brian Mueller, and Patrick and Jennifer Heun; six stepgreat-grandchildren, Tyler Mueller, Jacqui Mueller, Nicki Mueller, Jerry Heun, Tom Heun and Hanna Heun; one stepgreat-great-grandson, Kazmir Mueller; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; one son-in-law, Harold Heun; one stepgrandson, Jerry Heun; seven brothers and two sisters. Memorials may be made to Monastery of the infant Jesus, 1501 Lotus Lane, Lufkin, TX 75904

Genevieve Rice

January 18, 1921 - March 24, 2012